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transitive and intransitive verbs

Whether a verb needs a direct object to complete its meaning (transitive) or not (intransitive).

A transitive verb passes its action onto a direct object (She read the book); an intransitive verb completes its meaning with no direct object (She sneezed). Many verbs can be either, depending on the sentence.

Examples

  • She read the book (transitive) vs. She read all afternoon (intransitive).

See also

direct object active and passive voice
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